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Fat squirrels have been attacking children after overindulging themselves over the Christmas period.

The greedy animals have seen their waists balloon due to a mild winter that has seen them feasting on an abundance of snacks and food left on the frost-free ground.

But their increased appetites has led to them nipping and attacking people visiting Tehidy Country Park in Cornwall in a bid to get hold of food they might be carrying.

Squirrels have become overweight due to the warm winter.Credit:
SWNS/SWNS

In one instance a child was feeding a squirrel when six others ran out from a bush and bit his hand.

Two youngsters have also been attacked at the woodland, including a three-year-old boy who needed emergency hospital treatment.

Squirrels do not hibernate but in the cooler months they put on up to a quarter of their body weight in fat reserves to keep them warm.

Sophie Renouf with her son Finley who was attacked by a squirrel. Credit:
SWNS/SWNS

They also grow a thicker winter coat which can make them appear bigger.

But those in Tehidy have this year supplemented their survival techniques with eating at their normal summer levels.

Experts say that because of the unseasonably warm climate in the region they have been left fatter than ever.

As a result thesquirrels living in the woodland have developed a fearsome reputation.

Two year old Zach Mitch from Redruth feeds the hungry squirrels with dad Ryan at Tehidy Woods which are said to be the best fed in Britain.Credit:
SWNS/SWNS

Sophie Renouf, 23, and her three-year-old son Finley were attacked by a gang of them when the little boy tried to feed one.

"There was literally one squirrel there and my son fed him as usual," she said.

"Next thing, six of them came running out of the hedge and then, all of a sudden, all I remember is him screaming.

"I looked - and there was blood pouring out of his hand."

Finley was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital where medics spent three hours treating his puncture wounds and bandaging his fingers.

"I just want to let other people know. I don't want other children to go down there and get bitten," she said.

"A girl I used to go to school with messaged me on Facebook and said they'd tried to bite her little girl as well."

Finley, three, had his hand bitten by hungry squirrels at a country park.Credit:
SWNS/SWNS

Wildlife expert and TV presenter Iolo Williams admitted that squirrels do normally look bigger at this time of year - but the extra food that's been available this winter has made them unusually large.

Mr Williams said: "Because of the mild wet weather there has been an abundance of food for squirrels.

"There has been no shortage of nuts, seeds and fungi for them to eat and store.

"With the extra layers of fat and thicker winter coat this can make them look much bigger."